Poll: reliability key to storage end users, vendors coming up short

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Storage vendors are landing short of the mark when it comes to providing answers to their clients' storage needs. A Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) survey has shed light on the challenges faced by network professionals.

The poll of more than 70 small, medium and large enterprises found that more than 70 per cent of respondents rated reliability, recovery, and continuity as key requirements for their storage infrastructure. However, nearly half (49 per cent), added that implementing reliability is “very challenging”.

Closely behind those requirements were improving resource utilisation, integration, and consolidation of assets.

But potentially worrying for anyone concerned with implementing said requirements, nearly half of respondents believe that testing and installation of new equipment is still too time-consuming and expensive.

The rise of storage up the enterprise agenda was reflected though, as most thought it necessary to dedicate a team to this area.

Overall, the next year or so is seen as crucial. The Information Lifecycle Management model is being taken up by more businesses, who are aware of the need to integrate new technologies with old. Separation of archives from backup is a key step toward this, the SNIA said.

Based on the survey, the near future looks rosy for the storage industry, with more than 50 per cent saying they thought compliance requirements would mean significant growth in their storage capacity. ®